Oxford in pictures

For those who have never been to Oxford, and so don't have any idea of what it looks like...

Day 1 in my new house-ours is the door to the right, and one of my rooms is directly above the door. We are at the bottom of a quiet little street, with a river flowing just to the left of the pic-really nice, central location...

Radcliffe camera (part of Bodleian Library)-It is the second largest library in UK and is permitted to a copy of every published book in the UK.

Eagle and Child pub-Started in 1650, this pub was where Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and others used to go every Tuesday for some ales to discuss their works... Top choice for a steak pie and beer!

River-part of Christ Church College meadows-beautiful scenery-nice place for running,

Roger Bannister-ran the sub 4 minute mile at Iffley Sports ground-original stop watch on show outsidet the gym there...

Freshers week

Freshers week is the introductory week for first years into the university system-it mainly comprises of lots of partying, drinking, sussing out new ladies etc. As overrated as I feel it is, I do enjoy it because it is a chance to catch up with friends, party excessively, and still find time during the day to settle in to new houses, meet with tutors (though blearly faced), organize module programmes etc. When lectures actually start, you've got most of the rubbish out of the system and can really get down and focus.

I have decided to quit rowing this year-I ummd and arrd about it over the summer, but still trained to do it, then decided the other day against it. I felt I am too small for it (even 6ft as I am) and found that it took a huge amount of time out of my week, and it is not the sport you derive any pleasure out of when doing socially-it is one of those committments where you are either in or you're out... I joined rugby league and really enjoying it so far-it is far more laid back (only a couple of training sessions per week) and seems much more social-some of the war cries are hilarious-too explicit to publish on a blog though...

Some wise words from John Kay (I have been reading some of his books lately) who studied and lectures at Oxford...

From 'the truth about markets'

Much economic theory is based on perceptions that humans are 'self regarding species'. However, Kay says,

''It is not true that profit is the purpose of a market economy, and the production of goods and services is a means to it: the purpose is the proeduction of goosa and services, profit the means. The happiest people are not those who single-mindedly pursue happiness; the most profitable companies are not the most profit-oriented...The song and flight of birds displays a beauty and efficiency of design which waas not part of the intenthion of the birds... Sometimes we understand best when we don't try too hard to understand""

I think too much we are fixated on achieving something specific, and wander why it doesn't happen. Perhaps best to do what you enjoy doing, and with a bit of luck, good things will emerge...

Last few days in sunny Africa

In Otto Christian Rawson's words in 1901...

''There is no bettere climate in the world than in Rhodesia from July to November. The green grass begins to grow, in spite of the lack of rain, as soon as the cold weather and frosts are over in early August-and to see the cattle grazing contantedly and coming home full as the sun goes down like a great red ball in a clear sky, gives one a wonderful sense of happiness, and peace...''

How things change-in 1901, Harare was at this time ''a very small place with few buldings. Pioneer Street waas the only street in the town with Manica road showing a few buildings''. Rawson was English/German and was one of the first white settlers in Zimbabwe, (then Rhodesia) and was the major driver of agriculture in the Trelawney/Darwendale area where we lived. Our family owns a large piece of land on Manica Road which used to be central Salisbury (Harare) but is now little more than some rundown shops.

He says that Avondale and Mount Pleasant (suburbs in Harare) were favourite resorts on Sundays for shooting small buck and birds. He would never have believed what has come of Harare now!

He was right about the Zimbabwe climate-we had a fiercely cold winter this year, but the last few weeks have been great with long, hot, dusty summer days. When I get back to Oxford, the change will be immense, with autumn drawing to a close, and the short, cold days.

I feel I have done what I planned to do and gained much useful experience for the future. I saw 'Prime Circle' on Friday night, a South African band, and bumped into a Scottish acquaintance whom I had met at a pub in university over a year ago... What a small world...

The last few weeks, I have spent shooting on beautiful farms, going for a scull on the serene and peaceful Mazowe dam, playing the odd round of golf on world class golf courses, and getting drunk over poker games with friends. I don't think I realise how lucky I am to have Zimbabwe as my homeland. It is somethig that I really miss when in England, and really appreciate when back in the country. The political situation is terrible, but economically, it is picking up, and no doubt that when things turn round here, the change will be enormous. Already, loads of people that previously left, are starting to flock back. Personally, I want to take advantage of my UK ecucation, get some cutting edge work experience in London for a few years, and then settle down in Africa, having found a career that I want to pursue. I am thinking along the lines of business consultancy.

I took part in the Tom Soper mountain bike ride yesterday, fell off and grazed my knee/elbow-stupidly tried to go down the technical hill. Tom was paralysed, neck down, when hit by another car whilst going through an intersection. The walk attracted 862 participants which is incredible, seeing as there are only 10000 whites in the country.

Watching a programme on how Lehman Bank went bust at the moment; need to start getting things together for my flight on Wednesday.

C.G. Tracey

I have been reading a lot and getting closer all the time I think, to what I want to do for the future. I am currently reading the auto-biography of C.G. Traccy-had never heard of him before, but was apparently one of the main driving forces of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). It was incredible how much he did-commissioning valuable research that would lead to Zimbabwe's agricultural success in the 1980's, setting up and running a huge amount of organizations such as Rhodesia Promotion Council, Cotton marketing, gold mining, sanction-breaking. And the calibre of people he associated with-v.p. of the USA/British MP's, business leader etc-he was invited to speak at the Oxford Union on one occasion but was tied up doing something. However, the title was 'All for nothing?' and was it just that? Zimbabwe went from a net exporter of commoditiest to having a reliance on UN food aid currently in the space of less than two decades. He lost his farm at the height of the farm invasions, and died, aged 86, last month. It is just tragic, that all that people like him did for Zimbabwe has now been lost because of the whole political and economic circus. Anyway, maybe it is a calling for some of us youngsters to leave the past behind, and get on with building up the country again to and beyond its former status?

Summer 2009-Cape-Town/Kariba/21st/Work

It been a while since I last blogged-I should really get in the habit of writing a bit reguarly, rather than long chunks every once in a while.

I completed exams in mid-May, and then went to Cape-Town for 2 weeks with Francesca. We stayed with Emma and Alistair in their very nice flat in Rondebosch. We spent most of the time dining in good restaurants, driving around and seeing different sites and went to Franschoek (French Corner) for a weekend which was great fun. I managed to meet up with some friends whilst there, and paid a visit to African Impact in Noordhoek to speak to Rob Graham about the agency for Oxford.

I then flew on to Harare to spend most of the summer. On about the second night back, I was watching the 20/20 cricket tournament and so didn't hear dad calling from his room (mum was away playing bridge). Anyway, when she returned and came back, she rushed in to say that dad had collapsed. We called the ambulance, but they would not come as they said they didn't accept Inter-Global health insurance-which turned out to be a mistake, so we had to drive him there. It turned out that he had a peptic ulcer that had burst and lost 70% if his blood-hence the collapse. A few days in hospital, then he was out and on the recovery.

The next week, Obadiah, our cook was crossing the main road and didn't see a car, which subsequently knocked him with its wing mirror. I thus made my second trip to hospital in a week-he was in for about a week-very lucky indeed, as his face was really messed up. It took him a good month to recover, but still not 100%.

Murray Turner invited me on a houseboat trip to Kariba early July-about 12 of us in all with some of his friends from South-Africa. Fishing was terrible-our team caught one fish that ended up slipping away! Relaxing trip and nice to get out of the city and away from the cold! James Brown, my good friend, was on a canoe trip on the Zambezi, and got knocked out of a canoe by a hippy and subsequently bitten on the arm and swung around under water. Very luckly to have come out in one piece, despite being hospitalized for two weeks-another few visiting trips to hospital for me!

I think one thing I have learn't is to be grateful of each day that passes with no unfortunate events happening-accidents etc. Because, once you, or a close family/friend is critical, life seems so out of control and you can't do anything but wait. Suddenly, all those career ambitions/wealth etc mean nothing when you are in those desperate circumstances.

I had my 21st party on the 18th July which was really enjoyable, and am grateful to my parents for making it happen. Lots of family and friends were there which was nice. The following weekend I had some friends over dinner and a poker evening which we played until 7am! Good fun, albeit losing $5.

I went to Mozambique for a few days to stay with Dave Sole at his farm. We chatter over many ideas for his farm, and I really loved it, and feel Mozambque has huuge potential for business and development in the future. Will definitely be back again.

Worked on a research document for the Brenthurst Foundation. This meant mapping out what research activity was going on in the country, and I found it interesting meeting NGO's/government etc.

Head of the River Race and EHM

I raced in the novice eight category (pictured 2nd from back), and won the race fairly convincingly which was is always nice, and backed up with a spell of really sunny weather which was nice. Should be having the presentation ceremony in a few weeks time. Did our 2k race last week and got a time of 6.35 which is a big improvement from last time.

I am reading 'Confessions of an economic hitman' at the moment, and would recommend to anyone. Basically, EHM (abbreviations) are really well paid people who go into mainly developing countries to build empires for corporates in the developed world. Sometimes, they will get loans (provided by world bank) and get top US engineering and construction companies the contracts, and then to charge them interest on the loans, forcing them to default, and then taking control of more of the countries resources/set up military bases etc. 'Corporatocracy' include banks, governments and corporates and they have an empire in the west. I now understand how the British education system works-same story-loans extended to students, force them into debt and make them work for a corporate, meanshile feeding the empire billions!

So why work for a big fancy corporate/bank? Why not go and start your own thing/help developing countries get around the greedy hand of these economic hitmen? And I think that is what I am striving to achieve.

Easter break coming up which I am really looking forward to, and then exams and summer!

Head of the